Typewriting machine



June 30, 1931. L. A. NEMCOVSKY TYPEWRITING MACHINE Original Filed July 15, 1924 Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS A. NEMCOVSKY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSZGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO UNDERWOOI) ELLIOTT FISHER- COMEAI'EY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPQRATION OF DELAWARE TYPEWRITING- MACHINE Original application filed July 15, 1924, Serial No. 726,063. Divided and this application filed September My present invention relates to typewriting machines and in its more specific application to machines of the type designated as portable. Portable typewriting machines equipped with keyboards departing from standard, are difiicult to operate by typists ordinarily trained to operate on standard keyboards, while portable typewriters designed to be collapsed for enclosing into the box and set up for use may be lacking in the durability of non-collapsible typewriters and are more likely to become out of order.

It is an object of my invention to provide a portable typewriter having a standard keyboard ofusual dimensions, which typewriter shall be light in weight, non-collapsible and correspondingly durable in construction and of small exterior dimensions, so that it can be enclosed in normal operative condition Within a small case.

According to a feature of the invention, the parts of the typewriting machine are assembled in a particularly compact relation to confine the outside dimensions of the machine within minimum proportions. In the preferred embodiment, the universal bar is actuated by the type-bars and is assembled to the segment-plate and has an open strue ture to afford space for accommodatingthe escapement pinion and associated devices which are mounted on the movable carriage base-plate. The platen is raised in an oblique direction for the case-shift and the segmentplate is disposed at the same inclination, thereby limiting the height of the machine and affording space below the carriage for the ribbon-shift mechanism, which is preferably mounted on the carriage-shift frame and is shiftable therewith when the same is operated for case-shift movement, The ribbon-shift mechanism .is actuated from the rear o the universal bar, the shiftmechanism including a link efiending forward between the universal bar and the kevlevers therebelow.

Another object is to provide a ribbon-shift mechanism of simple construction which is adapted to be readily set for bringing into the path of the type any portion of the width of the ribbon, one special application being Serial No. 222,700.

to the selective use of either color on a twocolor ribbon, the construction having preferably a third or inoperative setting for stencil writing or cutting where the ribbon is maintained out of the path of operation of the type-bars. In the preferred embodiment, the ribbon-shift mechanism includes a pivoted lever, one of the arms of which has fingers of difierent lengths, adjustment means being provided to bring any of said fingers ibnto the path of operation of the universal This application is a division of my application, Serial No. 726,063, filed July 15, 1924, (now Patent No. 1,684,801, dated Sep tember 18, 1928).

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal crosssection through a preferred form of typewriting machine.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the ribbon-vibrating mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the type- Writer-carriage-shift frame includes the usual base-plate 10 having ball-bearing 11 on which is mounted a carriage having a platen 12. A base-frame 13 is provided with a unitary stamped enclosure formed with enclosing side walls 1 1 and a top 15, and said enclosure may be secured to said frame in the familiar manner as by screws (not shown).

Within the machine-frame are supported the key-levers 16, type-bars 17, and other elements to be described below.

As shown in the drawings, the segment plate 19 is disposed relatively low, the central or lowest point of the type-bar supporting bail 2O thereon being substantially at the level of the upper edges of the bank of keylevers 16. The connecting linkage from the key-levers to the type-bars occupies little space otherwise useful, said linkage being disposed largely in the space between the key-levers and below the upper edges thereof. The height of the machine is preferably further reduced by inclining the segmentplate 19 rearward, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, about 20 degrees, leaving ample :space back of the lower or forward part "of *thefsegment-plate for the escapement and related mechanism, which latter is preferably mounted on the carriage-shift frame and-extends within the boundaries of the universal'bar, between the segment-plate and the rear of the machine.

The universal bar 21 comprises an arcuate member:22 extendingimmediately below and assembled to the inclined segrnentsplate l9,

which is mounted at an inclination to the vertical, parallel to the case-shift :rods (not shown). I-n :the present embodiment, as shown-in the I drawings, the segment plate '1-9 is "curved in the =plane thereof and is inclined at an angle of substantially 20 degrees from the vertical. The universal bar is supported in aspecial manner to reduce the frictional losses to a minimum and toe'liminateinaccuracies resulting from wear. For low friction mount, 1 provide a support bracket 24 preferably secured asby screws 25 to-the segment-plate 19 and having a pair of parallel arms-26 and '27 extending rearward and 7 coninectedbyabar 28. thepreferred-enibodim ent, the suspension 'comprises a wrecker formed of a pair of parallel links 29 and' 30, depending respectively from bracket-arms 26 and 27 and rigidly connected by acrossbar 31. A pair-ofseparate'and distinct links 32-and 33 are pivoted to the rearward or'free ends of bracket-ar1ns26 and 27. The universal bar 21 is formed with integralr'lugs'34 and 35 extending rearward from the 'arcuate segment 22 thereof, and supported respectively from bracke -arms 26 and-27 by parallel links 29 and 32 and links 30and'33. lhe es'capeme'nt and associated mechanisms mounted on the carriage shift frame extend into the free v sp ace thus provided l'back 0f the segment-plate 1-9 and between 5the=-universal bar supporting Links. The "universal bar, as will be hereinafter described, has separate elements "for initiating plurality 'of separate and distinct operations of the machine.

It will be :seen that in operation of the uni versal ba-r, the same moves 'by a parallel link movement, the links advancing and returning by movement parallel to each other. The displacement of the universal bar is by movement strictly parallel to itself without engender-mg appreciable friction or wear.

The pivot -pins 36and 37 for theescapement m-e'ch'anismare mounted respectivelyin an -a -ngle-bar 38 secured to the base-plate '10 of the carriage, and a backing bar 39 "bolted to said angle-bar, and affording a working space 40 'the rebetween for accommodating said escapement-mechanism. The fixed and steppingvescapement-dogs 41' and *42, respectiv'e'l y, also are disposed between angle 'bar ,mountedon the carriage-shift frame 10. The

ribbon 46 .is held in .the usual ribbon-carrier 47 adjacent the platen and below the path ofthetypeon the type-bars 17. The shift of the ribbon 46 for raising it to printing position is effected;zthrouglr a .ribbpn-vibrator 53 pivotaily secured to the carriage-shift frame 10 to be vibrated by the carriage-feedinganovement:ofitheluniversal bar2'1 andiex- -tending,:as indicated in the drawings, under the universal barand over thekey-levers 1 6, tofthe ribbon-carrier 4.7 at-theare'ar OfEtheJseg- .ment 43, so that the mechanism does not add to the over-all dimensions of the :machine. The ribbon-vibrating imechanism" 4-8 includes "a rocker 49 formed with end Sears 50 pivoted as at 51 within a yoke-Ebracket 52, the latter secured :to1the rear of'the back- 1.

ing:bari39,rsecured'onthe carriageeshift frame 10, as iheretofore described. integral with the rocker 49 is the ribbon-vibrator 53 .extending forward therefrom and terminating adjacentto the rear face of thesegmentsplate .19, where a pivot 54 at the forward end vof said vibrator .53 supports the iibbomcarrier .47; :I have showntan arrangement .pro- .viding for settings for :two alternative degrees of elevation for the ribbon, particularly :useful for a itwo color-ribbon-shi'ft niechanism, and afl'ordingathird setting outof the path :of operation of the universal bar, for stencil-cutting. 'In the preferred embodiment shown,the rocker 49 carries a shiftable platei57ssecured tothe rocker 49 by screws 59 passing-through a slot '58 and intosaid rocker. Theshift plate 57 carries a pair of integral upstand ng rtongues 57 and 57 (see Figure 4%) of'different' lengths, and having bent-over forwardly projecting ends 60. Either tongue end may beshifted into and outof the :path .ofa nose =of the. universal bar 221, by:a corresponding shift'ofthe plate 57 along the screws :59.

A :spring 61- carried on the rocker 49 has an end 62 to snap into any one of three notches 63, 64 and 65 in the adjacent edge of the plate 57, for holding the plate at either of its three positions, the central of said notches corresponding to stencil-cutting in which'both tongues 57 a and 57 are maintained at either side o'f'the path of the nose 55 of the universal bar and the ribbon is not vibrated. Notches 63 and 65 correspond 'to thetwo operative or ribbon-vibrating 'settings, in whic'htongues 57 and 57 respectively are in the path of the universal-bar. Stops 66 and '67 are provided upon yoke brpcketi52iforilimiting the swing of the rockthese stopsumay be adjustable screws, as

shown.

In the preferred embodiment, the usual ribbon-field-shift lever 69 is employed to shift the plate 57 in any of its alternative positions, through a linkv68 fixed at one. end to the plate 57, and at its other end to one arm of a bell-crank 70. The bell-crank is pivotally mounted on a bracket 71 fixed to a cross-bar 72. The other arm of the bellcrank 71 has pivotally attached thereto one end of a forwardly-extending link 73. The link 73 at its other end is pivotally connected to the shift-lever 69 so that by operation of the shift-lever 69, forward or rearward, the plate 57 will be operated to position the tongue 57 or 57 with respect to the nose of the universal bar.

It will be seen that the ribbon-vibrating train of connections afford substantial multiplication of ribbon-carrier displacement, by reason of the long ribbon-vibrator 53 compared with the length of the tongue 57 or 57 actuated by the universal bar.

herefore, the elevation of the ribbon will be substantially greater than the shift of the universal bar. The ribbon-vibrating mech anism, however, does not add substantially to the bulk of the machine, since the connec tions are fitted into spaces otherwise unoccupied below the platen, to the rear of the universal bar, and between the latter and over the key-levers.

It will readily be understood that when the longer tongue 57 is shifted to be in the path of the nose 55 of the universal bar, the ribbon-carrier 47 will be shifted by the uniform operation of the universal bar through a lesser throw than when the shorter tongue 57* is shifted to be engaged by said nose.

It will be understood that by adjustment of screw-stops 66 and 67, the shift of the rib bon may be readily and accurately adjusted, thereby obviating the likelihood of typing the upper half of a letter in one color and the lower in another, which may otherwise occur in the use of two-color ribbons.

It will be seen that the two tongues 57 a and 57 of graduated lengths afford a plurality of changes of printing zone on a ribbon, so that any selected portion of the width of a ribbon vof any width may be placed in the path of the printing type. By such construction, the entire width of a single color ribbon may be used without need for removing the ribbon from the machine for re-adjustment. As before described, the ribbon-shift mechanism, the universal bar, the escapement and other associated mechanisms are all arranged in a. very compact form, the ribbon-shift mechanism being mounted on the bar 39, which in turn is fixed to the carriage-shift frame 10 and therefore moves with the carriage when the latter is shifted for enabling the typing in upper case position. This shifting of the carriage-shift frame 10 shifts the tongues 57 and 57 with respect to the universal bar and, therefore, the nose 55 of the latter is so constructed that it will e n' gage the tongues 57 and 57 in either of their shifted positions when the universal bar is operated.

From the above description, it will be noted that the plane of the segment is tangent to a typing position slightly above a front-stroke position at the platen for greater visibility for an operator resting the baseboard of the machine upon the lap; that the raising of the printing position between a front-strike and a top-strike position on the platen raises the type-bar basket or rest and correspondingly lowers the platen, so that the highest point of the types at rest is approximately on a level with the top of the platen which limits the height of the machine; that the forward inclination of the segment and universal bar establishes a hypothenusc fora mechanismenclosing ri ht-angle triangle that is further bounded by the horizontal key-levers for a base-line, and by a perpendicular line substantially tangent to the rear face of the platen which limits the depth of the machine, and within the triangle so bounded all the ribbon-vibrating mechanisms is compactly assembled; and that the connections intermediate the type-bar-driven universal bar and the ribbon are a train of parts having a pair of terminals 57 and 57", providing an interrupted connection with the universal bar and shiftable into and out of abutting engagement with said bar to variably actuate the same train to present different colorfields of the same ribbon to cover the same typing position at either case-shift position of the platen.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A ribbon-vibrating mechanism including a stationary type-bar segment and a typebar driven universal bar on said segment, a shift-frame mounting a platen for case-shift movement, a two-color ribbon, a ribbon-vibrator formed with a wide base, spaced-apart pivots on said frame to rockably support said base between them to stabilize the swing of the ribbon-vibrator, a plate slidably mounted upon said base, tongues on said plate that vary in length to vary the rocking extent of said base by the universal bar and settable to present either color of the ribbon to the platen, and a manually-operable train having connections with said plate to set either tongue.

2. In av ribbon-vibrating mechanism including a type-bar-driven universal bar, in combination, a shift-frame mounting a carriage for case-shift movement, a ribbon vibrator having a rocker pivoted to said frame, a shiftable plate mounted upon said rocker,

having a sorew-and-slot arrangement for guiding said plate in alternative positions, said plate having a plurality of tongues "thereon of difierent lengths to be disposed selectively in the fixed path of the universal bar, andmeans for holding said pla'tein any by a one-way movement of said universal bar to vary the swing of said base and its ribbon-vibrator, a train having'means to set said tongues relatively to the universal bar, and stop means on said frame to independently engage said rocking fiat base at opposite sides ofits rocking center to limit the swing of said rocker in two directions at either case-shift position-ofthe-carriage and at either setting of said tongues.

4. A ribbon-vibrating mechanism including a universal bar, aframe mountingacarriage and a carriage-feeding mechanism controlled by the universal bar,-a -ribbon-'vibra tor formed with a wide fiat base, widelyspaced-apart pivots on said frame to engage and rockably support said basebetween them to stabilize the swing of said vibrator, a tongue mounted upon said base, having a one-way engagement with said universal bar to bedriven thereby and not interfere with the independent return of said universal'bar to operate the carriage-feeding mechanism, and stop means on said frame to independently engage said flat base at opposite sides of its rocking center to limit the swing of said rocker in two directions.

5. A portable typewriting machine including a stationary segment inclined rearwardly from the vertical to direct a series OftjPG-lJfllS to swing upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly to" establish a more acces sible printing center upon a platen, a rearwardly-inclined frame mounting a platencarriage for a caseshift movement, long spaced-apart brackets projecting from the rear of the segment, a pair of links pivoted to each bracket, a universal bar curved around said segment and having two rear wardly-extending lugs, each lug pivotally connected witha pair of links thatsuspend and direct the universal bar'in"arstraight line downwardly and rearwardly, a motion-conmar-2,441

mechanism supported by said bracket, ain- -eluding aeribbon-vihrator rockable upon-pivots in :said.';bracket,za :plate on .said vibrator and having tongues engageable by (the znose of the :universal bar arm, and "means connected with i said :plate, effective :to bring zany tongue into alignment with :said motion- :conveyinglnose of the universal Fbar,

LOUIS A. NEMCG'V-SKY, 

